Ford Fiesta Championships returns to Mondello
Following a lengthy lay-off, competitors in Ireland’s most competitive Saloon Racing series, the Patch Tyre Equipment Fiesta ST Championship, are chomping at the bit to get back on track. Having not raced since early April the championship, for identical Fiesta STs, makes a welcome return to Mondello Park on Sunday June 11th as part of the Motor Enthusiasts Club’s two day race meeting.
Also on the bill will be the original Fiesta race series, the Mondello Park Fiesta Zetec Championship which has also been away from the action for two months. This lower budget series, for Zetec engined Fiesta models, continues to produce strong grids and exciting racing alongside the more recently introduced ST series.
This time last year the Patch Tyre Equipment Championship was tackling just its second event and did so with an impressive sixteen car entry. The growth in the championship since then has led to almost thirty drivers registering for the championship with grids regularly in the mid twenties.
The top of the championship is extremely close heading into rounds five and six, with reigning Champion David Maguire just ahead of Shane McFadden. McFadden has two wins to his name so far, with Maguire taking one of the other victories and John Denning winning the opening round, but Maguire leads by a single point. Third placed Kevin Doran is one of three drivers within six points of each other and chasing the leaders. John Denning is just two points behind Doran with the consistent Stephen Kirwan a further two points back in fifth.
The Mondello Park backed Fiesta Zetec Championship remains as competitive as ever with healthy grids and close racing right through the field. Despite the competitiveness of the series Mark O’Donoghue has managed to win three of the four races and build a big championship advantage over Owen Purcell and round one winner Darren Lawler. O’Donoghues’ winning margins have been small and he has driven well to withstand some enormous pressure, particularly from Purcell who pushed him very hard in rounds three and four.
Qualifying for both the Patch Tyre Equipment Fiesta ST and Mondello Park Fiesta Zetec championships will take place on Sunday 11th June, followed by two races each as part of a ten race timetable. Both championships can be followed on facebook.
